C S Holistic Hoof Care

18/08/2024

22/06/2024

08/04/2024

Five Overlooked facts about the Natural Trim no one is talking about.

Have you ever wondered why there's so much debate surrounding hoof trimming methods?

Over the last two decades barefoot trimming methods have proliferated worldwide. This emergence was catalyzed by groundbreaking research on wild horse hooves between 1982 and 1986, revolutionizing hoof care practices a decade later. Development of the Natural Trim method presented significant challenges. At the outset there were no tools, or records to guide the systematic mapping of wild horse hooves or document their natural shape.

The U.S. Great Basin wild horse hooves looked nothing like the hooves of domesticated horses. One of Jaime Jackson's initial discoveries was that the bottom of the hoof was not at all flat, challenging conventional notions of hoof balance. This raised questions: How do wild horses skillfully navigate rugged terrain of the U.S. Great Basin without artificial hoof protection? And why is there no lameness present? While conventional thinking suggests that horses absolutely need shoes for protection, Great Basin wild horses prove otherwise, seemingly growing their own natural 'horseshoes.’ How can we harness the principles of soundness observed in the horse's natural habitat? In the following discussion we will point to five key insights about the natural trim and its relevance to domesticated horses going without horseshoes.


1. The Natural Trim method mirrors nature

What does it entail to mirror nature? It means utilizing trimming tools with meticulous care, avoiding any attempt to sculpt or carve the hoof into artificially perfect shapes—a process akin to "cookie cutting." Instead, NHC practitioners employ specialized tools to simulate natural wear, maintaining a balance between wear and growth patterns. Through systematic application of the natural trim, skilled practitioners can prompt the development of natural growth patterns. Over several trimming sessions, this process gradually transforms the hoof capsule. ISNHCP practitioners do not manipulate or shape the hoof; rather, they facilitate the restoration of healthy growth by allowing nature to take its course. Their added responsibility is to know the characteristics of naturally shaped hooves in wild horses and understand how these traits transfer to the hooves of domesticated horses.

2. Consistent trimming guidelines

The Natural Trim method, pioneered by Jaime Jackson, stands out as the sole approach with consistent trimming guidelines. These guidelines serve as the cornerstone of the ISNHCP Natural Trim Training Program, providing students and practitioners with a comprehensive framework known as the Four Guiding Principles of the Natural Trim.


1️⃣ Leave that which should naturally be there:
This principle emphasizes retaining epidermal structures such as the hoof wall, frog plates, bars, and solar plates, each possessing their own form of natural thickness.

2️⃣ Remove only that which is naturally worn away in the wild:
Central to the method is the understanding of what constitutes a naturally shaped hoof, guiding practitioners to exercise restraint and to remove only what is naturally worn away. But knowing what is left over in the wake of natural wear is not possible if the practitioner is not confirmed to Principle #1.

3️⃣ Allow to grow that which should be there naturally but is not due to human meddling:
This principle underscores the importance of allowing the hoof to grow naturally, addressing with patience and forgiveness any infraction caused by misguided human interventions.

4️⃣ Ignore all pathology:
Rather than attempting mechanical fixes for hoof problems stemming from underlying systemic issues, practitioners let pathology resolve naturally over time with patience and appropriate interventions that focus on the causes of pathology than just its symptoms.

Chiselling of the hoof is ordained by nature, but such that meeting the animal’s survival needs equates with optimum health. Adaptive environments reflect the harmony between all facets of life and survival. Indeed, it is safe to assume that we must look beyond the hoof and out into the habitat. Here, we must transform our horses’ Paddocks into Paradise. Yet change comes also with challenging conventional beliefs about trimming while striving for harmony across all facets of equine life.

3. The Natural Trim: A horse's greatest ally against hoof debilitating conditions

The Natural Trim method emerges as the primary solution for addressing debilitating hoof conditions such as dropped soles, thin soles, or P3 penetrating the bottom of the foot, making it a recognized safe and humane trimming method.

Understanding how to address issues like excessive forward hoof growth or hoof wryness distinguishes the practitioner from a trimmer. The latter relies on trim mechanics alone, former is directed by the Four Guiding Principles of the Natural Trim. The Natural Trim can arrest these pathological changes, provided it is supported by the Four Pillars of NHC. Meaning, the application of the Natural Trim must extend beyond hoof care to encompass the broader context of a horse's life. While effective, the method does have limitations, particularly when horses are subjected to unnatural lifestyles or mismanagement. It's crucial to recognize that trimming alone cannot rectify issues stemming from systemic problems that don’t matrix within the hoof.

This revolutionary approach to hoof care still faces resistance from traditional hoof care professionals as well as academic scholars. Nevertheless, the Natural Trim proclaims to be the Number One method for safe and humane hoof care. The ISNHCP is at the forefront, offering comprehensive training rooted in the proven practices and principles of Natural Horse Care developed by Jaime Jackson.

4. Evidence-based trimming method

After four years of extensive study and research of Great Basin wild horses observed in the wild, as well as newly captured mustangs at BLM Corrals, the Natural Trim gradually emerged over time as a product of meticulous observation and analysis. Rooted in the principles of natural science, this method authentically reflects the untouched state of equine health and well-being. Despite the deceptive use of the term 'natural' elsewhere, here it signifies an unadulterated, pristine condition.

The journey towards developing the Natural Trim method was fraught with challenges, often marked by hostility and resistance. There were no learning materials, nor a mentor to pass on the knowledge. The Spirit of the natural horse gifted Jaime Jackson with the ability to look into the natural world of horses, and glean insights directly from the wild horses. Jaime's unwavering dedication, despite facing ridicule, has elevated his legacy, as the Natural Horse Care paradigm continues to reshape the landscape of horse management globally.

The advocacy for evidence-based science finds validation in the pathological changes observed in the hooves of wild mustangs weeks after their removal from their adaptive environment. But we expect this outcome as wild mustangs and their domestic cousins are one and the same species. Releasing horses back into the U.S. Great Basin is restricted beyond the jurisdiction of BLM. Yet, it is precisely here that we must seek evidence, as the research community turns a blind eye to potential solutions for many ailments haunting domesticated horses. As Jaime Jackson aptly asserts, "Science should not say one thing, and the natural world another." Further, the scientific method is predicated on an axiom that we must observe in nature, and not willfully contradict its wisdom. Hence, going into the horse’s natural world with the full force of good science can only open the blind eye to see the light.


5. Results require time, patience and understanding

Learning to trim horses' hooves is not a skill that can be acquired in three days. Just as Rome was not built in a day, the development of the Natural Trim method took considerable time and dedication. The ISNHCP Natural Trim Training Program draws from Jaime Jackson's four decades of experience as a natural hoof care practitioner, complemented by nearly a decade of horseshoeing.

Jaime's profound teaching experience in natural hoof care underscores a painful yet undeniable truth: impatience leads to harm. Rushing the learning process fosters excuses and a craving for instant gratification, a weakness of character exploited by quick-fix, fast track training camps. Promising immediate results without investing the necessary time and effort in mastering the complexities of natural hoof care as a profession is a “con job” by any other name. In the face of changes taking place within the barefoot movement, we advocate for structured training that requires accountability on our part. Confidence without competence lacks authenticity.

The ISNHCP is responsible for training their Practitioners, so they understand how to communicate vital information to and from the Supercorium using the Natural Trim method, acknowledging the biodynamic nature of the hoof and its responsiveness to the environment. Therefore, we approach trimming with diligence, patience, and a deep understanding of the horse's hoof.

IN ESSENCE

Naturally shaped hooves are a by-product of the horse’s lifestyle and habitat, not just the trim. Aided metaphysically by the Spirit of the Natural Horse, the Natural Trim method is a gift of nature to humanity, sustained by the ISNHCP's Vital Mission to advance humane care and management of domesticated horses through the skilled hands of its practitioners. ISNHCP is also a school of thought, where mastering concepts comes with patience in the quest for tangible results.

Our beliefs and principles about the hoof guide our hands and tools. Thus, we give much thought to the process of learning, and letting the hoof work speak for itself.

》》 Jaime Jackson, the founder of the Natural Trim based on the wild horse model, is an expert on natural hoof care. As a former farrier, he has integrated a diverse range of skills garnered from respected professionals to enrich his own portfolio. He is a critical thinker, researcher and an author of many books. His extensive publications incorporate a new terminology that has been popularized in everyday horse care. Jaime has broken ground on the “hoof mechanism” in its applications to barefoot hoof care, invented new tools to track changes in hoof mass across time with pathways leading to improved hoof structure and genuine natural hoof balance without resorting to resections and other forms of invasive trimming. He continues to influence and advocate for the ethical treatment of horses globally and the preservation of the wild, free-roaming horses of the U.S. Great Basin.

Photo credit: Jill Willis

09/03/2024

A really great track livery if anyone is interested

We provide a unique experience for retirees, rehab cases, and horses in need of a track. Our livery offers over 3/4 mile long track, surfaced areas in winter, and an abundance of trees and hedgerows for browsing and foraging.With 365 days, 24/7 turnout in a herd.

09/02/2024

Turn Your Paddock into Paradise - Create Optimal Boarding Conditions for Your Horses

Have you ever wondered if there was a better way to run your paddock? One that is free from laminitis traps, where you don't have to follow the never ending checklist of expenses? There is a better way: the way of the natural horse.

Paddocks have a locked potential of becoming much more than a pasture. They can serve multiple uses including rewilding projects. Most importantly, paddocks can be converted into a tracking system called “Paddock Paradise” that mimics the horse’s natural lifestyle. Paddock Paradise – a term coined by Jaime Jackson - originated from his research and observations of wild, free-roaming horses living naturally in the U.S. Great Basin. It is also known as natural horse boarding, natural boarding system, or simply track system. This research marks an important point in time for domesticated horses. The idea of natural horse boarding became so popular, it went viral right from the beginning, and now land owners everywhere across the world are “turning their Paddocks into Paradise.”

So what benefits can we reap from turning Paddocks into Paradise?

First, this type of boarding system enables us to naturalize the horse’s diet - the key to the prevention and cure of Laminitis, amongst other metabolic disorders. Nested within the context of natural horse care, Paddock Paradise draws upon the AANHCP Diet Recommendation for guidance in creating a species appropriate diet for equines. Why? To recreate a healthy habitat and lifestyle we must also know what is natural for horses. But there is no credible research of the natural diet of wild horses. Faced with this dilemma, the AANHCP embarked on an eight year long diet investigation and experimentation in a rugged Paddock Paradise that in some respects resembled the arid high desert environment of the U.S. Great Basin. To deem the diet safe and “reasonably natural,” the hooves of the AANHCP study horses had to reproduce clean healthy growth year after year that was free from stress rings and other tell tale signs of chronic laminitis. As a research standard to prevent the masking of stress rings, there was no rasping of the hoof’s outer wall - except where excess wall thickness may emerge in a very limited area associated with the toe wall pillar. The results were healthy, naturally shaped hooves and evidence of a reasonably natural diet.

Second comes freedom of movement that has innumerous benefits in its own right and speaks to the lifestyle of the natural horse. Paddock Paradise mimics the lifestyle of the natural horse. Moving across their "home range," wild horses naturally move along well-worn paths they’ve creat to move efficiently from one place to the next to meet their survival needs. Likewise, when no longer restricted to a stall, domesticated horses living in Paddock Paradise also roam freely all day moving from one activity to another. But what is the key difference in movement in a paddock versus a Paddock Paradise? There are striking contrasts in the amount of daily movement, the quality of the movements, and the footing. Collectively, these differences inure to the soundness of the horse, particularly when the animal is born and raised in such a Paddock Paradise. For example, horses are naturally born crooked and are thus prone to Navicular Syndrome. But “navicular” is largely preventable with 24/7 access to turn out, which is why it does not exist in the horse’s wild state. Freedom of movement in a Paddock Paradise with rugged, sturdy footing provides this and it is the best way for a horse to develop a healthy, strong musculature that will minimize injuries that cause navicular and its tell-tale symptom of clubfoot.

Third, track life offers an opportunity for horses to make friends, consequently forming their own "family bands". Enabling socialization between horses is paramount to sustaining the horse’s mental well-being. A system of multiple tracks allows horses to part and congregate, form and follow their own natural rhythms. Competition and fighting between males is one natural way of creating a healthy social structure within the herd. In fact, the innate biological drive for dominance in horses stems from the specie’s need for a hierarchy of social competence. One that ensures survival and is encoded within horse’s DNA. Horses can chase, fight, get away, but most importantly work things out between their own kin. Eliciting such natural behaviors in Paddock Paradise as observed in the wild drives movement, and is synonymous with a healthy lifestyle.

Last but not the least . . . in a Paddock Paradise the "No hooves, no horse" phrase becomes a distant memory from the past. Horses, when given a reasonably natural habitat and freedom of movement, can grow the healthy hoof nature intends for their specie. Steel shoes are replaced with Mother Nature's horseshoe – the naturally shaped hoof forged in Paddock Paradise.

Paddock Paradise is the most tangible of the Four Pillars of NHC, and it is inseparable from them. Its successful application depends on the extent to which we are able to naturalize the horse’s diet, hoof care, riding practices, in addition to Paddock Paradise. Together, the Four Pillars work in harmony. We recognize when designing a Paddock Paradise that one has to work with what is available. We also acknowledge that every situation is different, and that every location brings its unique challenges and limitations. Despite the odds, working with what's available means we are making an important step in the right direction.

One of the most significant insights into creating a natural boarding facility is that the farther away it is geographically from the horse’s adaptive environment, the more expensive it is to recreate it. Both infrastructure investment and maintenance costs increase as a result of offsetting the unnatural habitat. But these costs can be pitted against the savings of having healthier horses. Pioneering new ground is not easy, and building a Paddock Paradise in the non-adaptive environment comes with challenges. It is the brave hearts with open minds that transform the abstract into reality. These individuals are willing to go against the widely accepted norms and traditions of horse care, horsemanship and hoof care. Natural Horse Care is a living paradigm shift and can only become a new norm when we reach a new threshold in human awareness that horses in domestication can live a life without a risk of laminitis, navicular, and other problems born of unnatural management practices. Then the vision of healthy horses can fuel our equestrian pursuits. Pursuits rooted in vitality instead of pathology.

17/01/2024

In my opinion and most barefoot professionals dr Bowker is the worlds lead expert on barefoot rehab. Heels follow toes so keeping toes short will fix underrun heels or as some people call them long toe horses. Something I’ve been doing for years and has worked really well. I’ve never taken them as far back as it suggests here but when it’s suggested by Bowker, people should listen. Looks like I’ll have to do a little research.🙈

We've followed Dr. Robert Bowker's advice for a couple decades now, and it has worked well for us. I don't wish to criticize those who practice differently, but I have always been shocked at how most of the hoofcare world has largely ignored Bowker's research, data, and advice. He has the receipts! He's a very kind person so not into arguing. In this current world, if you're not a loud mouth blabbing away, no one listens. But his information is spot on.

Want to debate the toes? How about THIS: "With the long toe, P3 is remodeling! The hoof wall grows LONGER and this elevates the periosteum off the coffin bone, and that space fills in with BONE (which elongates the coffin bone). The toes gets longer and longer. With a slipper toe, the periosteum goes out towards this slipper; the coffin bone will creep. The entire bone remodels forward. Everything is interactive. If the palmar process gets longer, the toes are too long."

Bowker is adamant: you MUST trim into the white line to shorten the toes to rehab a long-toed foot. "Horses will be sore when the semilunar line to tip of P3 is in excess of 40mm, and thus the toe is long. This happens because trimmers are afraid to come inside the white line! Farriers NEVER come inside the white line. And vets do not trim."

Conversations about this need to happen. The trimmers who put this into practice know that it works. Short toes are the best thing you can do for a horse's foot.

Check out Hoof Help Online! 😁 A unique platform for learning: You receive exclusive content you won't find anywhere else, plus a barefoot trimming course, community access, recorded livestream video events, 80 issues of The Horse's Hoof Magazine, 1000's of photos, 100's of articles, 70+ videos, FREE App and more! Learn more at: https://members.hoofhelponline.com/

The Horse's Hoof offers a free monthly barefoot horse care e-newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/thehorseshoof/50-giveaway

Happy Hooves! - Yvonne Welz

16/01/2024

More often than not, tracks are seen as a way of reducing fat on an overweight horse.

What tracks are also very good at is helping a horse to get UP to a much healthier body weight.

The thing is, horses that are eating, moving and living in a much more species appropriate manner will be heading towards their ideal body score.

You need to imagine that ideal in the middle of a sliding scale that has obese horses at one end and underweight horses are the other.....we want to meet in the middle.

At the obese end, horses are helped by movement and an appropriate food supply that provides them with a high % of roughage nutrients and necessary vitamins and minerals.

At the underweight end, horses are helped by movement and an appropriate food supply that provides them with a high % of roughage, nutrients and necessary vitamins and minerals.

🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐🧐

Hmm, so the same things then?!

Horses moving and with appropriate food will be burning fat but also building muscle.

So those overweight ones slowly burn that fat whilst building muscle. Those underweight ones don’t have fat to burn but (again with appropriate food) will build muscles. Hey presto, they meet somewhere in the middle of that sliding scale!

(I know this is is simplified but it is the essence of how it’s achieved).

Where it goes wrong is when underweight horses are filled with sugar based feeds to put weight on. Quick weight gain is dangerous and will nearly always be fat gains, not muscle gains. I shudder at the words ‘conditioning mix’ 😩

In fact, a horse rescued just after my own at a similar weight was obese within 6 months and had full blown laminitis by 8 months due to conditioning feeds and grass. Meanwhile, mine (pictured below) slowly gained muscle with very little body fat.

And those overweight horses? Sure we can starve them into losing fat but then their body lacks appropriate nutrition (did you know it’s entirely possible to be overweight and still classed as malnourished? ‘Mal’ = bad and ‘nourish’ = nutrition) and withholding forage will cause other issues such as ulcers showing up.

So tracks are NOT just for fatties…

They are for horses.

14/09/2023

Why horses should go barefoot, in 200 words or less:

As documented by multiple experts and scientists, shoeing by its very restrictive nature causes damage to equine hooves. Bracy Clark (1800) demonstrated that shoes caused hooves to contract. Zierold (1910) proved that shoeing causes deviation of normal laminar structure. Luca Bein (1983) measured shock absorption and found that "a shod foot on asphalt at a walk receives THREE TIMES the impact force as an unshod horse on asphalt at the trot." Dr. Pollitt’s 1993 study showed that circulation in a shod hoof has to go through an alternate route. Smedegard demonstrated that shoeing prevents hoof mechanism from working correctly. Dr. Robert Bowker has shown that the peripheral loading effect of shoes decreases hoof blood flow in microvessels by 50% in minutes, leading to loss of shock absorption and less blood into tissues. Bowker has also shown that peripheral loading causes bone loss, and most shod horses appear to have osteoporosis of the coffin bone, in addition to the evidence of laminar stress.

Join us on Hoof Help Online and enjoy a full interactive community, Barefoot Trimming Course and extensive resources for only $29.99 per month; first week is a free trial. Just visit HoofHelpOnline for more details. Sign up link under our page's featured section, or just add the normal web ending to HoofHelpOnline...
Happy Hooves! - Yvonne Welz

07/08/2023

Spot on Nick.

07/05/2023

Check out the markings on this foal!

05/05/2023

Removing shoes is just the start of trying to regain strength and health of the hooves and body.
Removing shoes is the start of a massive overall rebalancing of the body;
Muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints are going to feel very different, the framework will have been compensating for different stresses incrementally over the years of being shod, it will take time for the muscles to redevelop, the joints and soft tissues to rebalance and strengthen.
So when you start on this journey, think about it as restarting your horse’s whole body and mind, be patient and allow the individual the time it needs to repair and heal itself.
How long the process takes depends upon how much damage has been inflicted over time.
Good regular hoofcare will help, remember little and often will help the whole rebalancing, if you have to make big adjustments each trimming cycle, then shorten the trimming cycle, at least until the horse can do more for itself.
Be careful of over trimming once the shoes come off, the form is not the most important thing initially, it takes everything to fall in place and then the strength and form will follow.
Check your tack as this will need to be adjusted to the changes in musculature.
Make sure you get the diet correct as you can for the individual, rich grass and feeds will cause chaos, don’t overfeed vitamin or minerals.
(Be careful of slick advertising no matter what company it is)
And remember that if your horse is sore, the diet may not be correct for it.

The more freedom of movement the quicker the changes, but comfort over the ground must be considered, so maybe boots or make sure that the ground your horse is turned out on is suitable.
Be meticulous with the cleaning and brushing of the hooves, the more stimulation the more likely you will get the hoof to respond.
Enjoy the journey it’s worth it 😊

06/04/2023

🔥One-time offer🔥 50% OFF with promo code 👉 50OFF👈 🛒Shop now and get FREE SHIPPING

05/04/2023

Maps are necessary, but flawed. (By maps, we mean any abstraction of reality, including descriptions, theories, models, etc.) The problem with a map is not simply that it is an abstraction; we need abstraction. A map with the scale of one mile to one mile would not have the problems that maps have,....

30/03/2023

19/03/2023

The relevance of the Wild Horse Model.
It seems to be fashionable right now to diss the wild horse model as applicable to hoof trimming. Typically the criticisms are: wild horse hooves are unhealthy; we cannot possibly duplicate that hoof form in captivity; that hoof shape is never applicable to riding horses; most wild horse hooves are underrun with heels too low, etc.

Using logic and common sense, nature designed a phenomenal structure - the hoof - which allows horses to run at speeds of 30+ miles per hour, absorbing a mind-blowing amount of concussion. Only the foolish would fail to study what horses in their free native habitats are doing to maintain the health of their hooves - which protect their very lives. Anyone who has spent time studying the wild ones is in awe of their nimbleness, agility, grace and free movement. They are amazing.

Are there examples of wild horses with poor hoof health? Of course. However, there is a plethora of outstanding examples. If those hooves can carry that wild horse soundly 20 miles per day, every day, we owe it to the equine to study what nature is telling us. Horses were made to travel many miles per day on bare hooves with a hoof form that consists of short toes, low heels, frogs on the ground, passive bars, and rounded hoof walls sculpted according to its exact terrain.

All other hoof models are man-made; thought up by the mind of a human being and subject to much error and bias, due to our flat out ignorance of how the hoof actually works. Give me the choice of nature or fallible mankind, and I will choose NATURE every single time.

This photo is a close-up of a photo print hanging in our living room, which serves as our inspiration. These are the hooves of wild horses in nearby Heber, Arizona. They could certainly be mistaken for hooves that we trim.

Happy Hooves! - Yvonne Welz

09/03/2023

The first thing to receive nutrients are a horse's vital organs and the skin and hooves receive what remains, therefore hooves and skin are the windows to a horse's health.

08/03/2023

55 million years of evolution has made a horse’s hoof one of the alternate wonders of nature, It contains many structures which work in unison to form a foot, hoof capsule, hoof mechanism and shock absorption system all in one. It can withstand extreme changes in temperature and huge forces, and it adapts to any condition or environment. This amazing adaption will only break down after many years of abuse. However, If we provide a horse with proper nutrition, hoof care and a near as possible natural environment, our horses will live long and lame-free lives.

05/03/2023

Good question.

So, how does a bar shoe stop the sinking of the bony column?

20/02/2023

See the full interview here 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

The term 'track livery' has been, literally, gaining traction in the UK over the last couple of years as an alternative, more 'natural' way to keep horses vs...

14/02/2023

Track Life and a couple of trims.

4 months!!

The natural progression of a now healthy horse growing out all its old laminitic hoof.

Once the diet and lifestyle becomes species appropriate everything else falls in to place.

You can treat the hoof for months and years but until the diet and lifestyle are correct you are fighting a losing battle.

31/01/2023

My girl having a spar day!

25/01/2023

Another illustration of horseshoes causing damage.

Are metal nailed on shoes doing even more damage than we think they are?

On every workshop we do this little experiment, and every time the same thing happens…

… we take a shod cadaver hoof and saw it in half, leaving the shoe intact on one side, and the other side we trim naturally.

We then press down in exactly the same place on each hoof, and without fail, blood oozes out of the shod foot by the toe, right above the shoe.

With the bare side (same foot remember), with the same pressure put in the same place, blood oozes more towards the middle of the foot, just in front of the digital cushion.

Every single time.

Yep we know, not exactly peer reviewed research here - but very interesting nonetheless, wouldn’t you say?

HM

To find out more about our workshops go here: https://bit.ly/HMISWorkshop